AUBURN, Alabama -- Many have Mississippi Gulf Coast quarterback Jason Smith pegged as an athlete who could potentially move to receiver in Auburn's offense.

Smith, however, says Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn told him he'll get looks as a signal-caller first.

"He said I was the guy since Day 1," Smith said after his most recent visit to Auburn on Saturday for Big Cat Weekend. "We'll definitely see when I get here, but nothing's going to be given to me from here on out, and that's what I want. I want to work."

As a senior at McGill-Toolen in 2012, Smith passed for 1,566 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 867 yards and 14 scores on the ground. The versatile 6-foot-1, 180-pounder later starred at receiver during the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and was named the Most Valuable Player after catching six passes for 134 yards.

Smith hasn't seen the field since after being redshirted in 2013, but says he significantly improved as a quarterback during MGCCC's spring practices.

"Me and my receivers definitely got better with the connections," said the four-star prospect. "It showed in the spring game. I got a lot more knowledge of the game now. Studying film helps a lot, and that's what I'm doing now at Gulf Coast with my head coach at Gulf Coast."

The four-star prospect signed with Auburn in 2013, but failed to qualify academically and is on the junior college route at MGCCC.

His future on the Plains is in question after he was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and two counts of attempting to elude police in March. His court date is set for June 24 and Malzahn said he's waiting for the facts so his staff can "deal with it like we would anything else."

Despite his legal troubles, Smith remains 100 percent committed to the Tigers and hopes to re-sign this winter.

"I just know what I have to do to get here, so I need to go ahead and handle my business at Gulf Coast," he said.

Other than Smith, Tyler Queen of Kennesaw, Ga., is the only other quarterback currently committed to Auburn's 2015 recruiting class. The Tigers have had their sights set on a few dual-threats, including 5-star prospect Torrance Gibson of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Kai Locksley of Baltimore, Md.

Check out Smith's high school highlights in the video below and stay tuned to AL.com for more coverage from Auburn's Big Cat Weekend.